Bearcats are back at it

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, December 16, 2008

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SEBEWAING— Ubly didn’t earn any style points here Tuesday night, but it did earn a victory.

Still making the transition from football to basketball, the Bearcats showed plenty of rust, but they also showed heart, according to their coach Joel Leipprandt in a 55-47 win over Unionville-Sebewaing Area.

“They’re not going to use the late football season as an excuse,” said Leipprandt. “I’m pretty excited about the effort.”

As many unanswered questions that Ubly has, USA may have just as many — or perhaps more.

The Patriots were also playing their first game of the season with a roster that lacked experience.

Senior Brandon Bitzer was expected to stabilize the team, but he won’t play until the new year as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

The team was also without Clinton Krueger. The 6-foot-8 junior was in a car accident and his status for returning is unknown.

“Our effort was great, we can’t fault the kids for that,” said USA coach Mark Gainforth. “If you look who we started today, they probably averaged four or five points per game total last year.

“These guys aren’t used to being in that position so they have to change their mentality a little bit of just being out on the floor and becoming more potent on offense individually.”

USAgot off to a quick start as it forced a number of early turnovers en route to a 14-3 lead with 3:03 remaining in the first quarter.

See UBLY • PAGE 13 Ubly fought back to make it 17-9 by the end of the quarter.